Social media could put your car at risk of theft

USING TWITTER, Facebook and other social media could alert thieves to you being out of your house and allow them to break in to take keys and steal your car.

The threat of thieves using Twitter to spot car owners who are out for the night or on holiday has been highlighted by Tracker, a company that specialises in stolen vehicle recovery.

Its Police Relationships Manager Stuart Chapman said: ‘The changing face of car theft means that owners have to take more precautions than they would a few years ago. Using social media, such as Twitter and Facebook to broadcast your movements, is almost like putting a poster for burglars on your house saying, “I’m not at home”.’

Thieves often target a house just to get car keys and then drive away with the car unhindered. This avoids the thieves having to bypass sophisticated security devices on modern cars as they have the correct key to unlock it.

Chapman commented: ‘Thieves think nothing of breaking into a house to steal a car as this is the simplest option for criminals.’

By Press Association reporters